Since it looks like you can only create a poll for one question at a time, I figured I would post here first. I'm interested in gathering some market data (anonymous of course) about the Bitcoin Community. Of course our ultimate goal is to make bitcoin as ubiquitous as possible, but that doesn't preclude the possibility that our current community isn't worth marketing to. I was thinking of trying to collect data along the following lines:

Age or Date of Birth

Gender

Nationality (optional)

This might be a perfect thing for something like the faucet to implement (ie: a small survey in exchange for bitcoins). I think the data would be helpful for the entrepreneurs in our group seeking to offer valuable services. We could also just do the survey right here on the forum (linking to a surverygizmo site or something). What do you guys think? I'm happy to set up the survey if there is enough interest.

You're kidding, right? I mean, collecting that kind of data when we're struggling to stay as anonymous as possible, kind of makes me giggle... and then get seriously worried.

Sorry for the bluntness, but I for one tell no one my age

I was not kidding, but I definitely expected reactions like yours. By the way, I just stumbled across your lottery thread. Well done!

So basically what you're saying though, is that no one on this forum will voluntarily give any demographic information to the entrepreneurs that want to serve them? I highly doubt that. I for one am not as concerned about anonymity as I am about plausible deniability and traceability, but I digress. I guess we'll just hang our entrepreneurs out to dry for the time being and let them grope in the dark

Statistics of this nature may not even be very helpful for the bitcoin community, since there is no way to know whether a sample is actually representative.

So basically what you're saying though, is that no one on this forum will voluntarily give any demographic information to the entrepreneurs that want to serve them? I highly doubt that. I for one am not as concerned about anonymity as I am about plausible deniability and traceability, but I digress. I guess we'll just hang our entrepreneurs out to dry for the time being and let them grope in the dark

Statistics of this nature may not even be very helpful for the bitcoin community, since there is no way to know whether a sample is actually representative.

I didn't mean to say no one will answer. I would answer the poll, but I'd just lie about the 'too personal' question that allow anyone that lays hands on this data (who controls it? how safe is it?) to gain leverage on me. Country? sure, there's 10 million here and it's a very small country, but age? Too specific. Suddenly it's 27k possibilities where I live, taking 365 days in a year into account. Add gender and it halves that. Gather some more data from the thread posts and you know who I am. No can do.

Many will answer because they feel it's a service to the community, getting to know our demographics, but is it? We're opening the door to exposing unknowing users to getting their details on the wild, and remember although we are not all zealots, we all should be aware of the real danger of, if this thing gets raided, things getting ugly for all that traded bitcoins. I don't live in the US (obviously) so I'll be safe, but is everyone else?

I'm not trying to convince you either way, but I'm not one of the 'crazy privacy freaks'... well, maybe I am, but still I just feel very uncomfortable when the unwanted disclosures that may hurt us are started from within the community itself, with the best intentions I'm sure, but that's just too much detail you're asking imho.

So basically what you're saying though, is that no one on this forum will voluntarily give any demographic information to the entrepreneurs that want to serve them? I highly doubt that. I for one am not as concerned about anonymity as I am about plausible deniability and traceability, but I digress. I guess we'll just hang our entrepreneurs out to dry for the time being and let them grope in the dark

Statistics of this nature may not even be very helpful for the bitcoin community, since there is no way to know whether a sample is actually representative.

I didn't mean to say no one will answer. I would answer the poll, but I'd just lie about the 'too personal' question that allow anyone that lays hands on this data (who controls it? how safe is it?) to gain leverage on me. Country? sure, there's 10 million here and it's a very small country, but age? Too specific. Suddenly it's 27k possibilities where I live, taking 365 days in a year into account. Add gender and it halves that. Gather some more data from the thread posts and you know who I am. No can do.

Many will answer because they feel it's a service to the community, getting to know our demographics, but is it? We're opening the door to exposing unknowing users to getting their details on the wild, and remember although we are not all zealots, we all should be aware of the real danger of, if this thing gets raided, things getting ugly for all that traded bitcoins. I don't live in the US (obviously) so I'll be safe, but is everyone else?

I'm not trying to convince you either way, but I'm not one of the 'crazy privacy freaks'... well, maybe I am, but still I just feel very uncomfortable when the unwanted disclosures that may hurt us are started from within the community itself, with the best intentions I'm sure, but that's just too much detail you're asking imho.

Your points are well taken. I'm sorry if I overstepped. And you're correct, my intentions were good. I merely did not realize how easily such general data could be used to track down an individual, especially if the tracker is determined and well funded. My bad!

That being said, it seems like most of the eminent risk is going to fall on our community's entrepreneurs. They are either going to have to raise their prices to offset the extra risk they are taking on our anonymous behalf, or we need to come up with a whole new entrepreneurial framework where these risks can be spread among the voluntary participants. Either way, I'm in!

There is already a poll of nationalities on the site. You could start there.

But certainly if you read for a while, you will see that the forum community has a large representation of -anarchists and various types of libertarians.

There was one liberal/socialist here, but I ran him off. (Sorry everyone.)

Most believe strongly in hard (gold/silver) currencies and there is a deep distrust of fiat currencies and the governments that create them. There is unbridled animosity toward central banks.

I however, prefer fiat currencies and think gold is better used for rapper's teeth and silicon interconnects.

I came here on the promise that bitcoin could be used as an internet cash replacement with all the privacy that goes with cash transactions. It fits in with my strategy to return privacy back to the web. However, bitcoin is slightly less private than I would like. I'm working to fix that.

If you are really interested in "investing" in the bitcoin ecosystem, I have one or two ideas you might be interested it. I'd be happy to discuss them in public or private.